Relief-valve.



No. 694,374. P atented Mar. 4, |902.

w. J. GQYNE. RELIEF VALVE.

TN: Nokms PETERS co. PHOTO-Luna.. msm ,www Dv E No. 694,374. E Patented Mar. 4, |902.

W. J. GUYNE.

RELIEF VALVE.

(Apl'nication me@ oct. 2e. 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. GOYNE, OF BARTONHEIGHTS, VIRGINIA.

RELIEF-VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 694,374, dated March 4, 1,902.

Application filed October 26, 1900. Serial No. 34,493. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. GOYNE, a citizen of theUnited States,residing at Bartonheights, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Relief-Valves, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to relief -valves for steam-cylinders of locomotive and other types of engines; and the objects in View are to produce an automatically-operating steam reliefvalve for preventing the formation of a vacu# um in cylinders of engines after the steam has been shut off at the throttle-valve or 0therwise.

Various other objects and advantages of my invention will hereinafter appear and the novel features thereof will be particularlyv pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure Lis a ver tical sectional view through 'the dome of a steam-boiler, (that of the locomotive type,) the same being provided and connected up with a relief-valve constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of my invention. Figs. 2, 3, and 4: are longitudinal sectional views of modified embodiments of my invention.

Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts in all the figures of the drawings.

l designates the shell of a boiler, in this instance the dome of a locomotive-boiler, and 2 a steam relief-pipe, which leads to a steamcylinder (not herein shown) and connects the same with the inner end of a valve-case 3.

The valve-case 3 comprises a cylindrical tubular portion 4, which at an intermediate point may be externally threaded in an opening 5, formed in the boiler, and at its inner end or that within the boiler is coupled at 6 to the steam relief-pipe 2, before mentioned. At an intermediate point within the yboiler the valve-case 3 is provided with a steam-port 7, and outside of the boiler said case terminates in an enlarged chamber 8, having a surrounding flange 9, to which may be bolted or otherwise secured a cover lO, which may have formed on its innner side a centrally-located cavity or seat 11. The valve-case 3 is further provided immediately in rear of its steaminlet port 7 with an internal annular valveseat 12, which communicates with the steam relief-pipe 2.

Mounted and adapted to reciprocate within the valve-case 3 and while shorter than yet conforming to the same in cross-section is the hollow or tubular stem 13 of the valve. TheV rear or inner end of this stem is beveled to conform to the seat 12, with which it communicates, While at its outer end the stem carries or merges into an annular piston 15, provided at its center with a small exhaust-port 16, which forms a means of communication between the interior of the tubular valve and the said chamber 8 and is surrounded by a countersink or seat 17.

Between the periphery or edge of the annular piston and the surrounding wall of the enlarged chamber 8 a ground joint 17a is formed, and between this joint and the center of the piston the latter may be provided at its rear side, if desired, with a superficial ring 18. The piston is preferably made slightly flexible, so that it will fit accurately the chamber 8 and at the same time its stem at its rear ground end will accurately iit the seat 12, and it is io insure this accuracyof the parts that I prefer to provide the ring 1S. Ordinarily the ring does not touch the wall of the valve-case; but should the pressure become so great as to spring the light piston then, and then only, will the ring bear against the valve-case and prevent the piston from springing any farther. I also prefer to employ a spring 19, seating the ends of the same inthe opposite countersinks 10 and 17, formed in the cover and piston, respectively. The springis light and is intended to keep the valve closed against its seat,notwithstanding any slight imperfection that may exist between the rear end of the stem and the seat Should this spring be omitted and such an imperfection in the valve-seat exist, steam might enter at the seat .and having a small area upon which to act might accidentally open the valve and admit steam when it was not desirable. The stem between its ends may be provided with any desired style of packing to insure close contact between the stem and the valve-case, such being mere detail of workmanship.

At a suitable point the chamber 8 is pro Ioe vided' with an air-inlet 20, the same being located in rear of the piston of the valve for the purpose of admitting airlat that point. "-The operation ofl the invention in its preferred embodimentmay-be' briefly stated as follows: By closing the throttle oroperating any other mechanism for cutting off the supply of steam to the cylinder a partial vacuum is formed therein and in the steam relief-pipe 2, and air entering the chamber through the air-port 20 and acting against the rear face ofthe piston 15 of the valve causes the latter to move forward, thereby uncovering t-he steam-inlet port 7 and admitting live steam from the boiler to the valve, steam relief-pipe 2, and the steam-cylinder. The steam instantly destroys the vacuum and exhausts from the valve through the small portl to the chamber S in front of the piston, and therefore to the opposite side of the piston to where the air-pressure exists, so that the steam thus exhausted serves to close or return the valve to its seat and close the steam-inlet port 7, the steam being subsequently exhausted back through the port 16 when a vacuum or any other means may be provided for this purpose. In Fig. 2 the same construction is employed as' before described, except that the spring 19 and its seats in the cover 10 and piston l5 are omitted; also, theoperation is the same. ln said figure of the drawing, 2l designates the boiler; 22, the valve-case,located and threaded in the latter and'within the boiler provided with the steam-inlet port 23. The case of the valve terminates at its outer end in the enlarged chamber 26, to which is bolted or otherwise secured the cap or cover 21a, and in rear of the steam-inlet port the case is further provided with the internal valve-seat 24. The hollow stem 25 of the valve is ground at its rear open end to tit the seat 24 and terminates in the chamber 26 in a piston 27, the edge of-which vis accurately fitted to the said chamber. The piston is provided with the steam-exhaust port 28, and the wall of the chamber 26 is provided with an air-inlet 29,

communicating with.said chamber in rear ofthe piston.

In thev embodiment of my invention illustrated by Fig. 3, 3() designates the boiler; 3l, the valve-case, threaded or otherwise secured at an intermediate point therein and having connected to its rear or inner end the steamrelief pipe 32, leading to the steam-cylinder. (Not shown.) The valve-case is provided at a point within the boiler with a steam-inlet mnnicationv with the boiler by registeringwith the .steam-inlet ports34 when in' its rearmost position At its front end the stem merges into or4 carries a piston 40, which accurately lits the annularchamber and may be provided with a ground beveled flange 4l, -which accurately ts against the stop or seat 37, thereby-forming a ground joint. The 0peration of vthis embodiment of my invention is as follows: A partial vacuum being formed in the relief-pipe 32 and steam-cylinder, atmospheric pressure acting against in this instance the outer face of the piston 40 causes Y the valve to move inwarduntil the ports 34 and 39 register. This allows steam to enter -the valve, steam-relief pipe, and cylinder, immediately destroying the vacuum, the

steam gainingaccess to the chamber 35 and the rear of the piston, whereby the latter is acted upon through `the small exhaust-port 42, formed in the valve-stem immediately back of the piston. In this manner the steam acts to close the valve against' atmospheric pressure. f l

In Fig.f4 the constrnctionland operation of the embodiment shown thereinare the-same as those just described, withY the exception that for the ring 36 in Fig. 3 is substituted the cap or cover 43, which may be either! bolted or otherwise secured to the chamber of the valve. With this exception,` therefore, I the same description applies to4 both constructions. .The cap 43 precludes Ithe "possibility of dust entering and interfering with the free movements of the valve, and forthe purpose of admitting atmospheric pressure itimay be provided with one or a plurality of air-inlets 44. 1

. My improved valve, it will be observed, is intended to replace the air relief-valves usually employed in steam chests and cylinders of locomotive and other types of engines.- It is well known among those conversant with the subject that the sudden change of -temperature caused by letting cold .airinto the cylinder through the usually-employed reliefvalvel causesk an. unequalcontractionor IOS IIO

shrinkage of the same and many times resul-to ing in avfracture or ,cracking of thecylinder, usually through the saddle, and also results in a loosening of the bol-ts in the frames. lIn addition to these'disadvantages orobjections there is the condensation of steam and the drying up of oil to be considered, which disadvantages and objections becomeimost important in the locomotive ntype of engine, which is subject to long fastruns downgrade when thethro'ttle is closed. A further disadvantage and objection to the usual-type'of relief-valves is the quantity of dust drawn into the cylinders, resulting in therearlycutting out of the valves, pistons, cylinders,'pa`clc ings, and rods.

With vmy improved steam relief-valve as vsoon as the throttle is closed and a partial vacuum, however small, is formed the` valve' automatically: opens toadmitlive steam to the relief-pipe andcylinder and4 againautomatically closes as soon asthe pressure in the relief-pipe and cylinder goes up a fraction of aipound, therebyretainingabout atmospheric pressure in the steamrelief-pipe and cylinder. The result is that the cylinders are kept hot, and when the throttle isagain opened there is not the condensation that nowtakes place nor the unequal contraction nor the admission of dust and air to injure the working parts, and finally the steam assists influbricating instead of drying up the oil.

It is tobe remembered :that I prefer toy merely substantially maintain in the cylinders about atmospheric pressure, andconsequently but little steam will be exhausted "claim ,isf place, which is uninvention, what I l. yThe combination with a boiler, a valve connected therewith and adapted to-receive steam therefrom, and a steam relief-pi pe leading .therefrom and'ito a steam-cylinder, of means foropenifnglthe valve automatically by atmospheric pressure yat v.one side of the valve and admitting steam thereto and to the reliefpipe from the boilerewhen a partial vacuum isformed in said relief-pipe, and meansfor directing said steam to the opposite sideof said Valve for closing the same after suchladmission ofy steam.

2. The4 combination of a boiler, a -relief- Valve connectedtherewith, a steam relief-pipe connected to the valve andleading to asteamcylinder, means for. opening Vthe said valve by atmospheric pressure so as to admit steam` from theboilerlto the valVe-and1,relief-pipe upon the formation of a partial Vacuum, and

.forclosing the same by steam-pressure after a destruction of, said vacuum, said exhauststeam pressure acting upon the opposite side ofthe valve to thatacted upon by said steam.

.3. The combination -with a boiler, a Vvalve connected therewith and 'adapted to receive steam. therefrom,;and a relief-pipe leading Vfrom the valveto a steam-cylinder, of means forropening the valveautomatically by atmospheric pressure by air admitted-in rearv of the valve, and for closing the same automatically-thereafter by steam admitted in frontof .said Valve.

case 'and adapted to close' said port, means .for automatically opening the valve to admitl steam from. the boiler to the pipe when a partial vacuum is formed in the latter, and for automatically closing the valve against its seat subsequent to such opening.

5. The combination with a boiler, a .valvecase provided with a steam-inlet portin communication with the boiler, and at its front or outer end terminating in an enlarged ychamber, and at its rear inner end connected with areliefpipe leading to a steamcylinder,.`of a .Valve yterminating in a piston ittingsaid ,chamber and havinga stem` fitting .the case and adapted to open and close the steam-inlet port, and means for admitting atmospheric pressure to one side of the piston to move the same in a direction to uncover the port when a partial vacuum is formed in the reliefpipe, and means for conducting steam to the opposite side of the piston to effect a closing of the said port after the destruction of said vacuum. v

-V 6. The combinationwith a boiler anda cylinder relief-pipe, of a valve-case located in the wall of the boiler and extendingv to each side of the same and connected at its inner end to said pipe, said casingvbeing provided within the boiler with a steam-inlet port, and at its opposite orouter end provided with an enlarged closed chamberin communication with sequently the steam exhausting in the chamber will act on the opposite side of the piston to close said steam-inlet port. 4

A 7. The combination with a boiler, a steamrelief pipe, and a valve-case located in `the wall of the boiler and connected to said pipe, said valve-case having the internal valve-seatllQ,

steam-inletport 7, and enlarged chamberS, having an air-port at the rear side thereof, and the cap or cover for said chamber, of the tubular open-endvalve 13 adapted toclose against said seatand cover said steam-port, and having the. piston provided with the steam-exhaust 16.

Y8. The combination with a boiler andarelief pipe leading to a steam -cylinder, 0f a valve-case located in the wall of the boilerand provided within the same with av steam-inlet and seat and at its outer end terminatingill an enlargedrchamber provided with an airport, avalve located in the case and adapted for reciprocation, said valve acting to.close the port and adaptedvto bear against the seat Aof the caseand at its front endcarrying-a .pis-

ton-.fitting the said chamberof the case, and a spring interposed between the front wallof IOO IIS

the case and the face of the piston, whereby thereof and terminating Within the chamber any inaccurac57 in the fitting of the rear end in a piston provided With supercial ribs 18, of the Valve against the seat is provided for and means for automatically opening `and and the Valve cannot be accidentally opened. closing the Valve by duid-pressure.

5 9. The combination with a boiler, a relief- In testimony whereof I ax my signature 15 pipe, and a valve-case terminating in an enin presence of two Witnesses. larged chamber, said case being in communi- WILLIAM J. GOYNE. cation with the boiler, of a valve mounted for Witnesses: reciprocation in the case and adapted to close MILLARD F. 00X, 1o theseat of the said case and the inlet-port C. J. MELLIN. 

